School me too SKB. Clearance for the screw thru the tang holes,but screws into wood should be tight (just not tight enough to split), in fact after screwing the stock on, I take the screws out & put a drop of carpenters glue down the screw hole as I put the screw back in. We're talking Win. SSs,Stevens 44s &44 1/2s. Never had a stock work loose. Hope this helps, ...MIKE...